Overhead door and operating mechanism



July 16; I1935.

w. M. BRUNS'T Er AL OVERHEAD DOOR AND OPERATING MECHANISM Filed NOV? 8, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l yATTORNEYS July 16, 1935- wM. BRuNs'r ETAL 2,008,000..

OVERHEAD DOOR AND OPERATING MEGHANISM ATTORN EYS July 16, 1935. yv. M. BRUNsT Erm. 2,008,000

OVERHEAD DOOR AND OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 8-, 1932 5 Sheees-SheeI 3 Patented July 16, 1935 OVERHEAD Doon AND OPERATING f -MEcnANlsM `William M. Brunst and William Joseph Laufers- V l 4 Weiler, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to General Door Company, Nevada 110, Nev., a corporation of Application November 8, 1932, Serial No. 641,746

I "s claims.

This invention relates to imprbvements in overhead doors, and has for its object tO provide an improved counter-balance structure for supporting a doorso that the door may be operated easily and maybe clsecl without abrupt and sudden jars.

`It is also an objectof this invention to provide \a bracket structure for supporting-the counterbalance mechanism, and also serving to support tracks'wguiding a door and for adjusting the supporting means by which the door may be forced into close engagement with the wall of the building to which the door `is attached. I

It is also an object of this invention to provide, in connection with the door and track serving as a guide therefor, means forforcing the door into close engagement with the wall of the building to which the door is attached, said means being adjustable and so constructed that its engagement with the track will force the door against the building. f

,It is a further object of this invention to provide an article of hardware adapted to be used in connection with a door and a track therefor for guiding the door with relation to the track, and for forcing the door into and out of engagement with the wall, in which there is a doorway closed by the door.

These and other advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of this invention.

Referring to the drawings:

" Figure 1 is a vertical section just inside of the doorway, showing the counter-balance mechanism and the vertical part of the door tracks.

Figure 2 is a top plan yview of the counterbalance mechanism and the brackets for supporting and guiding it. 5 4

Figure y2A is a section on the line 2A-2^ of yFigure 2.

Figure y2B is a section on the line Z13- 2B of Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, showing the upper edge of ythe door in section. I

Figure 4 is a section'similar to Figure 3, showing a slightly modified form of bracket and a truck mechanism engaging the door and the track for forcing the door into engagement with the wall to which it is applied. v

Figure 5 is a top plan View 'of the mechanism shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a `section on the line 6--6 of Figure 4.'

Figure 7 is a section through the bottom corner -Of the door, showing the sealing strip, the track and the bottom casting. L

' Figure 8 is a section through the upper end of the door, showing the relative positions of the door, the track and the guide truck when the door is supported in a horizontal position on the overhead part of the track.

The present door mechanism is adapted to be used in connection with garages, warehouses and other similar buildings,'and is adapted' to be applied to a doorway in the wall thereof. The jamb on each side of the doorway is indicated by the numeral 'I, while the overhead lintel is indicated by the numeral 2. 0n each side of the doorway is a channel-shaped track 3, supported on the wall by means of clips 3a. I

On the wall above the doorway `are two brackets 4, connected by means of a horizontal brace bar 4a. Each bracket has an outwardly extending arm I6, the purpose of which will be later described, and a downwardly extending extension 4b, which has thereon a pair of brackets 24, the purpose of which will be later described. Attached to one of the brackets 4 is a hook 5, to which is attached one end of a cable 6, which passesover a pulley l attached to one end of a spring Ila by means of a clevis Il, and over a. second pulley 8 supported by a bracket 9 on the bracket 4 to which the hook is attached.

The cable, after passing about these two pulleys, has its 'other end attached to the lower end of the door I0. Another hook II is attached to the bracket 4 to which the hook 5 is attached. To this hook a cable I2 i's attached at one end and extends over a pulley I3, attached to the clevis Il, back about another pulley I4 supported by the bracket 9, across and 'above the doorway about another pulley I5, supported by the second bracket 4, to the lower corner of the door I0.

The arm I6 of each bracket 4 has a slot in one end through which a. bolt I9 passes for supporting thearcuate partl lofthe track. The spring I 'la has attached to one endthe clevis which supports the pulleys 1 and I3. To the other end-of the spring is attached a clevis I'Ib which is supported by means of. a bracket Ilc extendingI from the bracket 4 to which the pulley I5 is attached.

The horizontal part of the track is indicated by the numeral 20. On the upper edge of the door, at each side. is a bracket 2| to which one end of an arm 22 is pivoted. Each arm 22 has on its other end a roller 23 for moving in the track 3. These rollers and arms supporting them are adapted to guide the upper edge of the door as it moves to and from closed position, and also serve to support the' iipp'er end of the door when supported in -the horizontal parts of the tracks.

On the lower end of each extension 4b are two spaced outwardly extending brackets 24. Each bracket has a slot therein and supports a forked guide 25, Each guide has a slotted extension 26, one extending upwardly and the other one downwardly. These extensions are attached to the brackets 24 by means of bolts 21 passing through the slots therein. By means of these bolts and the slotted nature of the brackets the forked guide may be adjusted with relation to the bracket 4 and with relation to the track acljacent it.

Adjacent each forked guide when the door is closed there is provided on the door an arm 28, which has on the end thereof a roller 29 which engages the slotted guide for forcing the upper edge of the door into close engagement with the wall when the door is closed. These forked guides cooperating immediately move away from the wall so ily opened.

By the adjustable nature of the slotted guides wear in the guides, the rollers 29 and the adjacent parts of the door may be cared for by properly adjusting the slotted guides on the brackets 24. This guide may be lowered or raised, or it may be moved to or from the adjacent wall. The slotted guide is provided in its lower end with a seat 29a. This seat prevents lateral movement of the door when the rollers 29 are properly seated. A slight movement of the door upwardly will move the rollers 29 out of their seats so they can guide the door easily away from the wall.

As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the slottedY guide is replaced by means of an arm and truck construction. For supporting the guiding arms there is provided on each edge of the door, adjacent the top thereof, a. plate 30 which has extending outwardly therefrom a pair of ears 3|, between which one end of a link 32 is pivoted by means of a pin 33. In the other end of the link is a relatively long slot 34 adapted to receive a projection or bolt 36, or any suitable supporting means, located on one side of a bar 35. For the purpose of securely holding the bar on the link a nut is provided on the end of the bolt or projection. On each end of the bar on the side opposite the projection is a shaft 31, which has thereon a roller 38 for movement in one track.

As shown in Figure 4, the lower roller acts as a fulcrum engaging the part of the track remote from the wall, while the upper roller engages the part of the track adjacent the Wall, tending to force the lower end of the link and the pin 33 and the door against the wall to securely close the upper part of the door. By means of this lever action the door is securely held in closed position but a slight upward movement of the door will destroy this lever action and cause the truck to travel in its track until it reaches a horizontal position, such as that shown in Figure 8, where the rollers are supported on the lower part of the track in horizontal position.

This piece of hardware, consisting of a plate, an arm pivoted at one end to the plate, and a truck adjustably pivoted to the other end of the arm, constitutes not only a guide mechanism for one end of a door but means for securely holding this end of the door against the wall when closed.

As shown in Figure '7, at each edge and on one the upperv edge of the door it may be readily and easwith the rollers 29 serve toy side of the door there is a notch 39, and on the adjacent inner wall of the door or door jamb is a sealing strip 40 adapted to fit in the notch II. This sealing strip not only ts over the jamb adjacent thedoorway but extends slightly over a rabbet 4i provided on thewall in the doorway'. The part of the rabbet not covered by the mold strip 42 is engaged by one side of the door adjacent the notch 39. By means of this construction a close seal is provided between the wall and the door at each side so that wind, dampness and dust may be kept out of the building when the door is closed. The tracks are supported on the walls by means of brackets 43. wm

In the form shown in Figures 4, 5 and, 6 the horizontal part of the track is partly supported by means of an arm or beam 44 extending from the bracket supportingthe counter-bix.

mechanism and attached thereto by means of a bolt and slot 45. The bracket shown in this form has mounted thereon a pulley 46 for supporting a cable. The bracket 42 is attached to the arcuate part of the track by, means o! a bolt 41.

, In the form lshown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the upper edge of the door is held in close engagement with the wall of the building by means of the rollers 29 engaging the slotted guide and resting in the seat 29a. vAny upward movement lof the door immediately tends to move the rolland into engagement with the slots, thereby moving door away from the wall.

ers out of their seats the inclined parts of the upper edge of the At the same time the upper edge of the door is' guided by means of the rollers 23 traveling in the tracks. These rollers 23 serve to support the upper end of the door, which is articulate in its nature.

In the form shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the upper edge of the door isguided by means of the links and the trucks thereon. When the door is in a closed position pressure on the upper roller forces the lower roller against one edge of the track so that the door is forced against the wall.

Immediately the door is partly opened this action is released so that the rollers travel freely in the tracks. These links and trucks not only serve to guide the door as it moves to and from' a closed position, but they serve to support the upper end of the door, which is articulate in its nature, in a horizontal position, such as shown in Figure 8. l

Each section of the door has mounted thereon the usual `rollers for engaging the tracks for holding the door in proper position with relation to the wall, and for supporting the door sections when the door as a whole is in an elevated open position, supported by the horizontal parts of the tracks. The counter-balance structure shown in Figures 1 and 2 may bel used in connection with the form shown in Figures 4, 5 and 8.

It will be understood that it is desired to comprehend within this invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1f. In an overhead door, in combination with a wallhaving a doorway therein, a door-tor closing the doorway, a' channel-shaped track having straight portions interconnected by a curved portion for guiding the door, and means on the door engaging in the track, said means including a 'lill link pivoted at one end to the door and having on its other end a pair of rocking rollers on lon-'- gitudinally spaced axes engaging the track, whereby said rollers respectively engage the opposite Walls of the curved portion of said channel-shaped track when said door approaches its closing position so as to force said door against said Wall.

2. In an overhead door, in combination with a wall having therein a doorway, a door for closing the doorway, a channel-shaped track having straight portions interconnected by a curved portion for guiding the door, and means on the door engaging in the track, said means including a link pivoted at one end to the door and having at its other end a truck with rollers on longitudinally spaced axes engaging the track, whereby said rollers respectively engage the opposite walls of the curved portion of said channel-shaped track when said door approaches its closing position so as to force said door against said wall.

3. In an overhead door, in combination with a wallhaving a doorway therein, a door for closing the doorway, a channel-shaped track having straight portions interconnected by a curved portion for guiding the door, a link pivoted at one end to the door, a rocking member pivoted to the other end of the link, and rollers on longitudinally spaced axes on the rocking member engaging in the track to guide the door, whereby said rollers respectively engage the opposite walls of the curved portion of said channelshaped track when said door approaches its closing position so as to force said door against said wall.

4. In an overhead door, in combination with a wall having a doorway therein, a door for closing the doorway, a channel-shaped track having straight portions interconnected by a curved portion beside the doorway, a link pivoted at one end to the door, a member pivoted intermediate its ends to the other end of the link, and a roller on eachfend of the member to engage in the track to guide the door, said rollers being on longitudinally spaced axes, whereby said rollers respectively engage the opposite walls of the curved portion of said channel-shaped track when said door approaches its closing position so as to force said door against said wall.

5. In an overhead door, in combination with a wall having a doorway therein, a door for closing the doorway, a channel-shaped track having straight portions interconnected by a curved portion at each side of the door, a plate on each side edge of the door, a link pivoted at one end to each plate, each link having in its other end a slot, a bar for each link having intermediate its ends a bolt extending through the slot, and a roller on each end of each bar to engage in the tracks to guide the door, said rollers being on longitudinally spaced axes, whereby said rollers respectively engage the opposite walls of the curved portion of said channel-shaped track when said door approaches its closing position so as to force said door against said wall.

6. As an article of hardware, a plate having on one side a pair of ears, a link pivoted at one end between the ears, the other end of said link having a slot therein, a bar, means extending from one side of the bar through the slot 'for adjustably attaching the bar to the link, an axle on the other side of the bar at each end, and a roller on each axle.

7. As an article of hardware, a plate, a link pivoted at one end to the plate and having in its other end a slot, a bar having on one side a projection extending through the slot for adjustably attaching the Vbar to the link, an axle at each end on the other side of the bar, and a roller on each axle.

8. As an article of hardware, a plate, a link pivoted at one end to the plate, the other end of said link having a slot therein, a bar, means on the bar intermediate its ends extending through the slot for adjustably attaching the bar to the link, and a roller on each end of the bar,

WILLIAM M. BRUNST. WILLIAM JOSEPH LAUFERSWEILER. 

